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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by highanxiety on December 9, 2002, at 14:38:37
In reply to How many of you posting are currently exercising?, posted by jamielynn on December 6, 2002, at 13:06:37
I have always excercised (im on 75 mgs remeron)...I still do despite the wonderful 45 lb weight gain (makes excercize rather pointless)...only now the high dosage has made me very heat sensitive (all my sensory stuff worse). Normally thin as a rail, and excercise makes me burn more, but not on remeron.
Posted by IsoM on December 9, 2002, at 14:48:42
In reply to Re: Gardening can be really physical!!, posted by bluedog on December 9, 2002, at 4:01:55
Gardening can be hard work alright! I'm pretty strong for my age (53) but I do have joint pain & I'm not that big a woman (only 120 lb) so when heavy work needs doing, I've got to call in some strong young guy to lift huge rocks, & dig in compacted soil. But there's nothing like working up a sweat with a cool breeze blowing. Because all SSRIs have made me much warmer, I need to work in the coolest part of the day in warm weather. Bluedog, have you found any of your meds have increased your body heat?
Posted by bluedog on December 9, 2002, at 23:06:21
In reply to Re: Gardening can be really physical!! » bluedog, posted by IsoM on December 9, 2002, at 14:48:42
> Gardening can be hard work alright! I'm pretty strong for my age (53) but I do have joint pain & I'm not that big a woman (only 120 lb) so when heavy work needs doing, I've got to call in some strong young guy to lift huge rocks, & dig in compacted soil. But there's nothing like working up a sweat with a cool breeze blowing. Because all SSRIs have made me much warmer, I need to work in the coolest part of the day in warm weather. Bluedog, have you found any of your meds have increased your body heat?
Hi Iso
Good to hear from you! I am still trying to get either a Yahoo or Hotmail email account up and running. I have tried and I've tried again everyday this week and no matter what I do I can't seem to get it to work for me!! Has anyone else had such difficulty setting up one of these accounts? Anyway, I'm going to get my brother to come over this weekend to give me a hand. He is an electronic technician and is a true computer "Wizz". Hopefully I'll have it up and running by next week :).
Regarding the ssri's. I have heard that the ssri's can affect the temperature regulatory systems in your body. I have a very close friend who also happens to be a qualified and registered psychiatric nurse. She herself went through a bout of depression and was on Zoloft for 4 years. She tells me that she had the opposite problem to you and she had difficulty keeping herself warm while she was on the Zoloft. However she was on the maximum therapeutic dose recommended for this medication!!!
Personally I have not had any problems on my current medications (20mg generic Prozac and 2.5mg Diazepam twice per day). However with my previous medication (Effexor XR) I definitely suffered from excessive sweating...usually at night. I used to suffer from horrible night sweats when on the Effexor and I would wake up with the bed literally soaked in a pool of sweat such as that I used to swap sides {and put my poor dog on the wet patch... LOL :) :) } You have probably guessed at this stage that I share my bed with a dog (or two..though the female seems to prefer her own space and will only join us on the really cold nights). Anyway because I used to get drenched in sweat I would go from overheating to suffering from chills from the wet sheets. Thank god the Prozac does not have this effect on me!!!!
NOW, having aired my above views I actually have another possible theory (or HYPOTHESIS as Larry prefers to say) about why you get so hot when gardening in the heat of the day and it does not have as much to do with the medications that you take but they may still contribute to your problem. My theory goes as follows:
I believe that the difference between you and me (disregarding any age and gender differences) actually relates to the CLIMATE in which you live. I have read articles that state that the metabolism between persons who live in hot climates actually differs to the metabolism of persons who live in cooler climates (I don't know how far north in Canada you live but you may live in an outright cold climate...The Yukon for instance????? or perhaps you live further inland away from the moderating effect of the sea on the climate????). The human body is an amazing adaptive organism and people living in colder climates literally have "thicker blood" and a more sluggish metabolism.(Don't ask me about the science on this matter)
I have personally experienced this difference from both sides of the coin. I currently have a very close friend who comes from a northern European country (where it snows and and the lakes freeze over in winter) staying in my beautiful city for a 6 month period. She arrived in the middle of our winter and while us locals were shivering and rugging up in thick wooly jumpers (sweaters) she was practically running around in summer dresses and wanting to go to the beach for a swim. However now that the weather is starting to warm up slightly she is suffering enormously from what she terms "stifling" heat and we all love to tease her about this. It's not even really that warm yet. Here's a sample of the current temperature in my city with a forecast for the coming days:
Current Temperature 30°C
Forecast Maximum 34°C
Hot. Windy.Relative Humidity is 18%
Barometer is at Q1018.7
Visibility is at 10+ kmForecast Min Max
Wed 19 37
Thu 18 29
Fri 14 26I have other friends who have migrated to Australia permanently and within a couple of years they also start feeling the cold during our winters and also enjoy the very pleasant summer temperatures that we get as their systems slowly adapt to the local climate, their metabolism changes and their blood "thins out"
From my own personal experience I lived 2 years in a Northern European country during my 20's and I was constantly suffering from cold (even the summers were more like our autumns in this country) What's more my SAD symptons were absolutely shocking and I hated the really short winter days where it didn't get light until 9.00am and it was already dark by 4.00pm and the sky was also so much lower in general.
So my thoughts on this matter is that the combination of the ssri you take PLUS actually living in a cooler climate creates the conditions in your body that make you overheat when you do your gardening in the hotter part of the day. I think that because in Canada you have shorter summers than in Australia that your body has less time to adapt to the higher summer temperature each season. I'd hazard a guess that you adapt more quickly to the winter cold...am I right???
Do you think that we should trouble Larry to perhaps give us a more scientific explanation for my hypothesis?
warm regards {no pun intented :)}
bluedog
Posted by IsoM on December 10, 2002, at 0:09:38
In reply to Re: Gardening can be really physical!! » IsoM, posted by bluedog on December 9, 2002, at 23:06:21
Hey, chill out, mate! (lousy pun intended)
While your theory might be sound, it doesn't apply to me. My climate isn't nearly as warm as yours, but where I live in Canada, it's nicknamed the 'Banana Belt'. We can grow bananas here & while they're not commercial varieties - they're mainly grown as exotic looking ornamentals - some varieties can bear fruit. Winter isn't that cold. It's mostly the rainy season. An occasional winter, we'll have no snow. Most times if it snows, it'll only last a day or couple hours on the ground.
I live close neough to the Pacific to benefit from its moderating effects. Winters are mild & summers don't get too hot. Many nights, the lows are still above freezing. But in summer, when humidity levels are high, the sun is strong, & there's no breeze that I suffer. I'm neither comfortable in heat or cold.
I lived on the Prairies (my sentence in Hell) for 14 years & froze in winter. But in summer, when the weather system didn't come from the south with high humidity, I could take the heat better. It was dry & windy. Perfect for gardening. Any sweat would evaporate quickly, doing what it's supposed to do - cool the body.
Despite the heat where you live, I would do better on a day like you had today, than on our muggy still summer heat. I still go out with sandals & just a sweater on.
Posted by IsoM on December 10, 2002, at 0:11:27
In reply to Re: Gardening can be really physical!!, posted by bluedog on December 9, 2002, at 4:01:55
Bluedog, if you wish, email me from your "good" email account to isomorphix at hotmail dot com & I'll answer from my good account in return.
Posted by bluedog on December 10, 2002, at 0:34:55
In reply to Re: Gardening can be really physical!! » bluedog, posted by IsoM on December 10, 2002, at 0:09:38
> Hey, chill out, mate! (lousy pun intended)
>Don't worry, I've got my airconditioning running at this very moment.
I've never been to Canada but from documentaries on TV and from photos in magazines I find the country very beautiful and attractive and would love to visit some day. I love what I've seen of the Canadian wilderness and I can just imagine that crisp clean wilderness air filling my lungs as I look at the photos!!!
I also believe that the culture and attitudes and lifestyle of Canadians are actually very similar to the Australians....and very different to the US culture! Although US cultural influences do seem to have permeated right through western society for better or worse.
Warm regards (Pun IS intended this time)
bluedog
Posted by bluedog on December 10, 2002, at 0:41:01
In reply to email » bluedog, posted by IsoM on December 10, 2002, at 0:11:27
> Bluedog, if you wish, email me from your "good" email account to isomorphix at hotmail dot com & I'll answer from my good account in return.
Will Do!!!
I'll send my just completed previous post as a test email and then wait for your return email to make sure everything goes OK!!
bluedog
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 10, 2002, at 1:32:51
In reply to Re: Gardening can be really physical!! » IsoM, posted by bluedog on December 10, 2002, at 0:34:55
Posted by bluedog on December 14, 2002, at 21:49:18
In reply to email » bluedog, posted by IsoM on December 10, 2002, at 0:11:27
Hi Iso
I see from your posts that you are really "under the pump" at your work at the moment but I just wanted to ask whether you received my last email to your "real" email address OK or did something go wrong with my new isp or perhaps something went wrong at your end?
If you don't have the time to respond properly because of your workload at the moment I fully understand as I am in exactly the same boat at the moment because of my imminent return to work on Monday (tomorrow). I just need to confirm that you actually received the email because of problems I've had with my email server in the past. If you got it I will the know that you will respond in due course when you get a bit of breathing space again!!!
warm regards
bluedog
Dr Bob... I apologise for continuing this thread for a non-med purpose so I've kept it really short and I promise to make all future posts on this topic on the social board. {:) :) :)}I hope you understand?????
Thank you for your patience
bluedog
Posted by Stacy Louisa Beus on December 15, 2002, at 10:57:46
In reply to Re: How many of you posting are currently exercising?, posted by sjb on December 9, 2002, at 9:29:57
Is there really a connection to bi-polar and insulin resistance? There is no reported cases of insulin problems or diabetes in my family, but a ton of bi-polar manic people. I have gained sooo much weight and they told me it was from the insulin resistance. Is there any hope of getting the weight off now after waiting 5 years for them to tell me what was going on? Any thoughts would help!
Thankx..
right now I am on topamax, wellbutrin, glugophoge?, avalide, and actose!
Posted by alijill on December 19, 2002, at 23:03:31
In reply to Topamax Experiences?, posted by Kingfish on January 4, 2001, at 7:29:48
I just started taking the topomax and noticed immediately the tingling in my fingers and what seems to be my whole face. i am on a real small dose but wnat to continue because of what I hear about the weight loss. For some reason I am feeling racier now than I was before. Anyone else ever experience this.
Posted by Stacy Louisa Beus on December 19, 2002, at 23:23:19
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences?, posted by alijill on December 19, 2002, at 23:03:31
> I just started taking the topomax and noticed immediately the tingling in my fingers and what seems to be my whole face. i am on a real small dose but wnat to continue because of what I hear about the weight loss. For some reason I am feeling racier now than I was before. Anyone else ever experience this.
I have had the same exact experience!When I get warm the tingling in my fingers goes away. My face had that the other day~ wow that was weird! I am taken it for the same reasons also, and my doctor thinks it will calm my mind too. how much are you taking?
Posted by alijill on December 19, 2002, at 23:26:16
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences?, posted by Stacy Louisa Beus on December 19, 2002, at 23:23:19
I just started so I am only on 25 mg. I noticed the feelings right away, but because of what I am going through right now i am on amixture of medications and wonder if that is what could be making me more sensitive to the side effects of topomax. I am starting effexor in the morning for the depression. I hope that helps. How much are you on?
Posted by Stacy Louisa Beus on December 19, 2002, at 23:30:10
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences?, posted by alijill on December 19, 2002, at 23:26:16
I am supose to take 100 mg but havent yet. this was only with 25 mg once a day! I am on welbutrin also. But everything else sounds the same.
Posted by AnitaMarie on December 26, 2002, at 13:06:35
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences?, posted by Stacy Louisa Beus on December 19, 2002, at 23:30:10
I have been on 400 mgs of Wellbutrin and 300 mgs of Effexor for about 6 months now. (After a bout of major depression)
Since I still seem to be having many ups and dows (as I have had all my life it seems) my doctor has prescribed 100 mgs of Topamax/day. I took it for two days but seemed to be in a complete fog all morning (I took it at midnight the previous nights) I can't handle not being able to think fast and the need to search for words in my mind. Is this a side effect that will eventually wear off or am I doomed to suffer with living in a foggy state? I want to become stable in my moods but I don't want to be "grey". I ahve too many activities and a full time job to keep up with.
Posted by beachblond on December 27, 2002, at 15:09:27
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences?, posted by AnitaMarie on December 26, 2002, at 13:06:35
> I have been on 400 mgs of Wellbutrin and 300 mgs of Effexor for about 6 months now. (After a bout of major depression)
>
> Since I still seem to be having many ups and dows (as I have had all my life it seems) my doctor has prescribed 100 mgs of Topamax/day. I took it for two days but seemed to be in a complete fog all morning (I took it at midnight the previous nights) I can't handle not being able to think fast and the need to search for words in my mind. Is this a side effect that will eventually wear off or am I doomed to suffer with living in a foggy state? I want to become stable in my moods but I don't want to be "grey". I ahve too many activities and a full time job to keep up with.I had too much trouble with Topomax in terms of my thought process and had to come off of it. The effects started at about 100 mgs. I couldn't find the right word, my thoughts were jumbled and short-term memory was noticably reduced. It continued the whole time I was on it--about 4 months. I finally gave up and have now switched meds. Good Luck!!
Posted by Ponder on December 27, 2002, at 16:57:34
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences?, posted by beachblond on December 27, 2002, at 15:09:27
I added a small dose of Topa to my regimen of 150 mg Lamictal and 400 mg Wellbutrin hoping for some synergy with Lamictal. It actually improved my cognitive functioning up to 75 mg. At 100 mg I have some brain fogging. I think if I could stay at 100 mg/day for awhile that might clear, but things come up that I need to be functional for and I cut back to 75, so I still don't know.
I also have not had sedation or heaviness with Topa. A little agitation and some "creepy-crawlies" from it. Sorry, don't know how else to describe that feeling. But, that has subsided and I am doing pretty well on it. At 75 mg no effect on appetite. At 100 my appetite decreases. 100 must be the side-effect threshold for me.
I have to give that little bit of Topa credit for boosting my Lamictal and pulling me out of a downward slide. It's been worth it for me and I am feeling pretty darned well these days.
Posted by up on December 29, 2002, at 17:41:03
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences?, posted by Ponder on December 27, 2002, at 16:57:34
just diagnosed bipolar. mainly manic, just started topomax. i'm hypersensative to most things it seems. so far all is well, just a little tired and incredibly thirsty. researching a lot. enjoy reading the messages. thanks! up
Posted by up on December 29, 2002, at 17:41:34
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences?, posted by Ponder on December 27, 2002, at 16:57:34
just diagnosed bipolar. mainly manic, just started topomax. i'm hypersensative to most things it seems. so far all is well, just a little tired and incredibly thirsty. researching a lot. enjoy reading the messages. thanks! up
Posted by Madge on December 29, 2002, at 19:09:17
In reply to Re: Topamax Experiences?, posted by Ponder on December 27, 2002, at 16:57:34
I have been on Topamax for almost two weeks now. It was added to my regime of meds by my psychopharmachologist as a way of counteracting the weight gain (approx 10lbs) I gained within the first few weeks of taking Remeron and couldn't lose. I am taking 45 mg of Remeron .5 mg of klonopin 3x daily and 50 mg of Topamax - 25mg in am and pm. My head gets a little fuzzy at night ie remebering strings of numbers is harder. ( I also have been taking a 5 day intensive Yoga workshop which has been kicking my butt so I may just be really tired from that as well - I'll see how I do after the workshop is over.)
I am titrating slowly to 100mg where the weight loss is supposed to start occuring. Tuesday I start on 50mg at night and 25mg during the day. I'll let you know how I do.Madge.
Posted by Gorda on December 30, 2002, at 19:20:09
In reply to Re: Starting on Topomax for Migraines. Advice anyone?, posted by Jaycee on November 18, 2002, at 5:17:27
Re Topamax
It made my hair fall out, I was bleeding under the skin--covered with huge purple bruises that were not from bashing into things. I felt good at first, but it wasn't worth it, and it did nothing for the migraines.
Posted by Gorda on December 30, 2002, at 19:26:47
In reply to Re: How many of you posting are currently exercising?, posted by Bill1888 on December 7, 2002, at 11:52:59
Topo was living hell, now on WB 300 mg, Zoloft 200 mg, nortriptyline 300, Inderal 100, I can't stop eating junk - icecream candy, I can barely move through the day at work, let alone exercise.
Haven't been able to force myself to go tto the gym in a year, need to lose 80 or so pounds, got a "total gym" and I'm having a lot of trouble trying to force myselt to use it. I tthink the huge amount of meds are part of the problem. I feel barely alive -- I should feel better taking all this stuff!!! Any advice?
Posted by Noa on January 1, 2003, at 15:09:17
In reply to Re: How many of you posting are currently exercising?, posted by Stacy Louisa Beus on December 15, 2002, at 10:57:46
Not enough!
I have always struggled with weight, have family history of insulin resistance and late onset type two diabetes (father and grandfather in later years), and since being on my meds for a while (no mood stabilizers, tho), have gained even more weight, and a lot of it in the waste area, which is where the fat cells supposedly store the hormones that make us more insulin resistent. Ok, so I belong to a gym and went religiously for a while, but have averaged about once a month in the past 8 months (that amounts to about a $50 visit each time!!).
I know it helps with my mood and with my weight and insulin resistance, but it is hard to get myself to go and work out.
Posted by jamielynn on January 1, 2003, at 16:05:23
In reply to Re: Starting on Topomax for Migraines. Advice anyone?, posted by Gorda on December 30, 2002, at 19:20:09
I had to get off the meds force myself to walk at least 10 minutes each day. And get off sugars. My mood is more stable and I am still tired alot but it is getting better. I always feel better after a walk, so I try to do it in the morning so it will get me going for the day. Zoloft make me sleep. WB was ok. But it took away that drive to really acomplish anything. I quit topomax as soon as I started feeling all Fuzzy in the brain. 75 mg. I am in College and couldn't risk the dah feeling.
The extra weight I carry is better than my grades.
I would go into more detail on some of the more alternative routes I have been having success with but I think the Dr. just wants med type info not so much chat. Good luck. May you all find yourselves.
Posted by doggrrl on January 3, 2003, at 16:02:02
In reply to Re: Starting on Topomax for Migraines. Advice anyone?, posted by Gorda on December 30, 2002, at 19:20:09
I do not take Topomax for migranes, but for a mild sz disorder and for bipolar disorder (along with lithium and ADs). I have had GREAT luck with it. I lost 22 lbs that I gained due to lithium and neurontin despite intense exercise 5 days a week. Since starting topomax, I have kept the weight off irrespective of my exercise habits, which were curtailed dramatically at one point for 6 months because of a sports injury. I have always been very athletic and had never gained any weight until I started lithium. No matter what I did, I could not shed the extra weight until the Topomax. I realize that I am only one person, and additionally, that I have always been thin. However, I have to say that for me, I am really pleased with Topomax. It also has had a marked AD effect, and has augmented the effects of my other meds. I took it and lithium alone together for months until a number of circumstances necessitated an AD. I take 200 mg/day. The hardest side effect for me was intense sedation. This lessened over time and disappeared but there were days when I thought I would not be able to continue it, especially with my job. I have experienced some naming problems on it -- again hard with my job, which involves lots of cognitive activity, writing, reading, lecturing -- but I can compensate with notetaking. Overall, the benefits -- mood augmentation, weight control -- far outweigh the slight decline in memory. The other side effects I had were fleeting, as I have been on it for over 2 years now and don't remember what they were, except for the horrific fatigue. Good luck to anyone considering this drug, and please write back with any questions. I know everyone is different. I am so sorry for Gorda -- with the hair loss, etc.
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